The canon day for celebrating comic books
EDINBURG, Texas—Every Sept. 25, comic book enthusiasts celebrate National Comic Book Day.
Not to be confused with National Free Comic Book Day, National Comic Book Day, which will take place Saturday, is a way to appreciate the literary art form.
According to Days of the Year, comic book lovers will also honor Rodolphe Töpffer, who is often credited for creating the first comic called “Obadiah Oldbuck” in the 19th century, on Sept. 25.
Carlton Nelson, a research and instructional services librarian at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Library, has enjoyed reading comic books since he was a child.
“When I was a little kid, they helped me learn how to read,” Nelson said. “Between comic books and science fiction novels, I went from a subpar reading level in second grade to having a college level reading ability in third grade … They stoked my creativity, my imagination; they gave me something to do out in the middle of Iowa.”
To provide a similar outlet at UTRGV, Nelson began an online discussion series called “Graphic Thoughts” last year.
Here, UTRGV community members can virtually discuss graphic novels and more.
Its first discussion this semester will be at 5 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 29, and students can RSVP through VLink.
The UTRGV Student Union will also be hosting an event for National Comic Book Day on Friday. Students can discuss their favorite comics and learn how to draw themselves as comic book characters.
“We really just want to get our students talking and sharing and building community with people who share similar interests,” said Mabel Cortina-Matos, event manager at the Student Union.
To RSVP, visit VLink.
Whether it is for National Comic Book Day or any other day, Nelson said he encourages students to read comic books to relax or build their reading skills.
“It’s a great way to relax and allow yourself to decompress,” the librarian said. “Also, if you do have issues with reading comprehension, graphic novels or comic books can help you become a better reader.”
For those interested in reading comics, Nelson recommended the “Birds of Prey” series that ran during the 2000s and the “X-Men” series under Chris Claremont.
Helgi Davis, the owner of Myth Adventures, which is the oldest comic book shop in the Rio Grande Valley, said the store cannot really host an in-person event because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Davis believes honoring comic books is needed.
He said comic book readers “would like [comic books] to be recognized as a form of entertainment that should be respected in the community. They’ve always been looked down at … but in the last 10 years, with the movies and all that, we’ve gained a lot more respect as a form of entertainment that’s legit.”
